Gas containing projectile or long range tear gas shell



GAS CONTAINING PROJECTILE OR LONG RANGE TEAR GAS SHELL Aug. 1a, 1931.

Filed April 7, 1930 I nz/enzor: .Fyrow G. 6086, W

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES BYRON O. GOSS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO GAS CONTAINING PROJ'EGIJILE B LONG RANGE IRE-ALB. GAS SHELL Application filed April 7, 1980. seriai No. 442,882.

. This invention relates to gas containing projectiles, or long range tear gas shells, normally laced in cartridges which contain charges 0 tear gases and similar gases,

'6 in the solid, liquid, or compressed state in destructible containers, and which projectiles are adapted to be fired from a suitable gun or small arm weapon, andexploded at a v.point some distance from the place at which the gun is fired, and at the point of explosion distribute a large volume of tear ases or similar gases for the purpose of sufiduing or overcoming -or dispersing large crowds of people, without subjecting 16 the person who fires the gun to needless exposure to attack or the effects of the gas liberated from the projectile.

An object of the invention is to provide a projectile or long range tear gas shell 2 which may be fired from a place of relatively security by a policeman or other oflicer into a mob or other unlawful assembly of people for the purpose of dispersing or disabling the members of the mob.

A further object is to provide a projectile, or long range tear gas shell, which contains a charge of tear gases or similar gas composition, and a suitable charge of explosive or other disrupting agent, and a time fuse; the time fuse is arranged to ignite the explosive after a pre-determined interval and disrupt the projectile containing the ftear gas while travelling, or after arrival at a remote point from the place at which the projectile was fired, and dis tribute the gas at said remote point.

A further object is to provide a projectile containing a charge of gas generating ma- 4'o. terial and an explosive material which latter will liberate sufiicient energy and heat sections, of a cartridge containing a tear gas projectile, and also a charge of firing powder, and a fulminate cap. i

Fig. 2 is an end view of a cartridge showing the fulminate cap;

ig. 3 is a plan view partly in section of a gas containing projectile which is placed in, and to be fired from the cartridge.

In Fig. 1, within an outer metal case 1, is placed a metal end piece 2, secured to the case by screws 3 or other means the metal end piece is provided with the usual fulminate or other firing cap 4. Within the metal end piece 2 is placed a suitable filler plug 5, of wood, fiber, or other suitable material, and which contains a bore 6 in which is placed the firing cap 4; adjacent the filler plug'5 is a space which is filled with the pro peller charge 9, the propeller charge also entering the bore 6 and contacting with the firing ca 4. The outer wall of the destruct ible pro ectile 10, Fig. 3, is made of straw board or other material, such as thin metal, for example aluminum or steel tubing, preferably wrapped on the outside with craft paper, and is provided with a felt wad or other suitable cushion 11 at one end, through which rojects a time fuse 12;-the end of the pro ectile adjacent the felt wad 11, Fig. 3 is closed by a suitable perforated plu 13, and adjoining the plug is a charge 0 explosive 14 which may be of black powder or'other propellant sufiicient in quantity to burst or destroy the projectile and container 19 and vaporize the gas generating chemicals 19, the charge of explosive being kept.

in place by a suitable diaphragm such as a cardboard disc 17 the time fuse 12 projects into the charge of explosive as shown and is provided with suitable fuse tips 15 and 16, one at each end; the fuse tips are composed of black powder bound together with a 7 percent solution of parlodion dissolved in amyl acetate with sufficient black powder dust to make a heavy paste, but may also consist of a suitable fulminate composition, the tip 15 contacting with the propeller charge 9 when the projectile is assembled.

Adjacent the cardboard disc 17 is a suitable filler pad of felt or other material 18, and

' destructible or frangible material that is not attacked 0r corroded by the gas generating chemicals. The as container 19 is suitably packed. within tfie cartridge tube by soft cotton or other protecting packing 21, and the outer end of theprojectile tube closed by a plug 22 of wood or other cheap material, the plug 22 being secured by pins 23 or otherwise. The completed projectile is then pressed into the cartridge tube 1 with the fuse tip 15 firmly against the propeller charge 9, a quantity of cotton wadding 26 is then pressed into the end of the tube 1,

a cardboard disc 24 then pressed on the wadding, and the end of the cartridge sealed airtight at 25 with a suitable cement.

A variety of compositions which will evolve or generate disabling gases according to the service required, are placed within the gas container 19; suitable gas generating compositions for this purpose are disclosed in my U. S. Patent 1,750,101, dated March 11, 1930. For example, with a gelatin composition container, a gas generating mass containing chloracetophenone in ethyl bromacetate, or chloracetophenonein chloroform, or other gas generating compositions disclosed in my above noted patent may be used.

With a glass container there may be used chloracetophenone and chlorpicrin, or titanium tetrachloride, stannic tetrachloride, or silicon tetrachloride, which produce a chemical smoke as well as irriating fumes; or there also may be iised brombenzylcyanide which produces violently lachrymatory gases without smoke; or there may be combined with the silicon tetrachloride, or other smoke producing liquids, chloracetophenone or other lachrymatory or irriating gas generating chemicals, as mentioned in the above noted patent.

An advantage of a gas containing projectile as described herein, is that it may be fired from a point of relative security, for example from behind a wall or other place of safety, the projectile being fired high in the air and over the wall; or the. projectile may be fired from adistance of say 150 yards or greater into a mob of people if it is desired to disperse, without subjecting the police ofiicer to the danger of pistol shots from members of the mob; also the projectile may be fired through a window into a house or other enclosure in which are collected criminals it is desired to capture, the projectile exploding within the house and liberating a great volume of tear gas within the house;

ing automobile containing criminals it is desired to capture. A time fuse 12 may be selected that will ignite the explosive 14 at a or the projectile may be fired into an escap-' predetermined time, for example six or seven seconds after the firing cap 4 has been fired; the gas containing projectile will then be exploded at a distance at about 150 yards from the point at which it was fired. The

use of the cartridge as described in a gun or other similar weapon enables the police ofiicer to shoot the projectile and liberate the gas at a point desired, and later capture the disabled persons.

I claim:

1. A gas containing cartridge, comprising a firing cap, a propelling charge of powder, a projectile adjacent said propelling powder, said cartridge containing a time fuse, a charge of explosive, a frangible container and a charge of gas generating chemicals in said frangible container, said time fuse arranged to ignite said explosive.

2. A gas containing cartridge, comprising a firing cap, a propelling charge of powder, a destructible projectile, said projectile in contact with said propelling charge, a time fuse in said projectile and having an end in contact with said propelling charge, a charge of explosive in said projectile, a frangible container, said container containing a charge of gas generating chemicals, and said explosive adapted to be exploded by said time fuse.

3. A gas containing cartridge comprising a firing cap, a propelling charge of powder, a destructible projectile, said projectile in contact with said propelling charge, a time fuse in said projectile, a fuse tip on each end of said time fuse, one of said fuse tips arranged to be ignited by said propelling charge, a charge of explosive in said projectile, a frangible container, said container containing a charge of gas generating chemicals, and said explosive adapted to be exploded-by the other fuse tip on said time fuse.

4. A gas containing cartridge, comprising an outer casing, a firing cap at one end, a propelling charge of powder, a gas containing projectile, a time fuse in one end of said projectile, one end of said time fuse arranged to be ignited by said propelling powder, an explosive charge in said projectile, the other end of said time fuse arranged to ignite said explosive, a frangible container, said container containing a charge of gas generating chemicals, said projectile sealed in said outer casing and adapted to be projected from I said casing by the firing of said propelling charge, said projectile adapted to be burst at a point remote from the place of firing, and the gas generating chemicals heated and the liberated gas dispersed by the ignition and T projectile, a time fuse in one end of said pro:

jectile, one end of said time fuse arranged to be ignited by said propelling powder, an explosive charge in said projectlle, the other end of said fuse arranged to ignite said explosive, a frangible container, said container containing gas generating chemicals, said container cushioned to prevent premature breakage, said projectile sealed in said outer casing and adapted to be projected from said casing by the firing of said propelling charge, said projectile adapted to be burst, at a point from the place of firing, and the gas generating chemicals heated and the liberated gas dispersed by the ignition and explosion of said explosive charge.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

BYRON C. GOSS. 

